California (CA) Camping

Camping in California is incredibly diverse from the cool, lush forests of northern California to the sunny beaches and awe-inspiring deserts vistas in the southern part of the state.

Some of the highlights of northern California camping include Redwood, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks. Outside the National Parks, the Sierra Nevada mountains offer dozens of alpine campgrounds while Highway 101 is your ticket to secluded coastal campgrounds. Shasta National Forest also offers plenty of camping opportunities from primitive sites to full-service RV parks.

Southern California camping is all about the beaches and the deserts (and the mountains too!). Malibu is popular with campers thanks to its proximity to beaches and the city of Los Angeles. For those looking to get away from it all, Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave desert are just the ticket. Camping is also popular on Catalina Island, along the shores of the Salton Sea, and in Angeles and Los Padres National Forests.

Have you camped at any campgrounds in California? Feel free to add California campgrounds that aren't listed here. Create a free account and keep track of the California campsites you've been to with the "My Campsites" feature, write your own review, and share your photos and camp stories today!